Making handmade paper is a mechanical process which basically consists of two stages: the preparation of the pulp and the lifting and finishing of paper.

The preparation of the pulp depends on the type of raw materials used:

• Plant residues are boiled, cleaned, washed, stamped in a mortar and then processed into pulp in a beater (either a manual marina beater or more sophisticated Carta or Bush beaters working on a cycling mechanism or electricity).
• The cotton rags are torn into pieces and left in a plastic bag in the sun to start the initial decomposition. Afterwards, the rags are washed and are processed into pulp in a Hollander Beater, a stronger machine. Both types of beaters are designed and produced locally by Handmade Papers of Africa.

Once the pulp is prepared it is poured into a large basin where the papermaker can lift the paper with a mould and deckle. The mould is a line mesh used to separate the pulp from the water. The deckle is a frame which determines the size of the paper. In this lifting a distinction can be made between 'Western style': paper with a smooth structure lifted by the mould and deckle and 'African style': paper with a rougher structure lifted with African mats.

After lifting, the paper is couched on a feld (a piece of cloth) and covered by a feld again, for the next paper to be couched. Once a certain number of papers are couched the papers are pressed in a hydraulic press to remove most of the water creating a hydraulic bonding. After being pressed, the feld with the paper is left to dry even further on a laundry line. When dried, the paper can be taken off the feld and is pressed once more to deliver a flat piece of paper.

The whole process of paper making is chemical free, there are no chemical additives, no glue and no chemical colourings. The product is suitable for writing and printing (for copying, computer printing and lithography). As different materials are used all the time and every paper is unique, new paper is designed all the time.

In Zimbabwe the availability of forest-based raw materials is reducing. The availability of energy and capital - as inputs for industry - is limited. Therefore, the ecological handmade paper industry offers a considerable potential to meet the increasing demand for paper products in an environmentally friendly way. Exclusively non-forest inputs are used in the production of ecological handmade paper. The production can be organized in decentralized small scale units, offering employment opportunities throughout the country. Besides, handmade paper products can be regarded as craftsmanship, capturing cultural aspects and providing an alternative for tree or stone based crafts.